A Buckley councillor who was forced to wait five hours in a packed A&E with his elderly mother says North Wales’ hospitals are no longer fit for purpose.

Cllr Dave Ellis described the waiting room at Wrexham Maelor hospital on Sunday afternoon as ‘packed to the rafters’ and said that staff were struggling to cope with the hundreds of patients walking through the doors.

After Cllr Ellis’s mother suffered a head injury he went to Wrexham Maelor because there was no doctor on duty at Mold Hospital and he was advised to take her to get her thoroughly examined.

On arrival at Wrexham, he was told that there were only two doctors on shift in A&E and minor injuries.

He said: “There were at least a hundred people in that waiting room and apparently it was even worse on Saturday. I struggled to believe it, I've never seen anything like it. The waiting room was packed to the rafters, wall-to-wall with people.

“There were people in wheelchairs, injured kids standing up – I couldn’t imagine it being any worse but staff assured me it was,” he said.

The councillor said nurses were commenting on how the hospital was no longer big enough to cope with the needs of the area now that beds and services had been cut in local community hospitals.

He added: “Years ago Wrexham Maelor and Ysbyty Glan Clwyd were fit for purpose but now, with all the community hospitals closed, they aren’t big enough to cope with the demand.”

A spokesman for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board apologised about Sunday’s delays, saying: “Wrexham Maelor was significantly busy on Sunday with a high number of people presenting themselves at the department.

“There were two senior doctors and two junior doctors on duty, but there was an increased demand with a high number of very poorly patients being admitted. Patients with the most urgent clinical needs are treated as a priority.

“Our doctors and nurses are working very hard to deliver clinical care at the department despite the impact of emergency pressures which can cause difficulties in ensuring that patients can move through the hospital system in the normal way.

“Patient safety is our top priority, and all patients are kept safe whilst waiting to be seen. Patients are also assessed on arrival and our records show that no patient was waiting five-and-a-half hours for triage.”

“We urge the public to support NHS Wales’ Choose Well campaign, and visit their GP or call NHS Direct Wales on 0845 46 47 for advice and treatment of most illnesses.

“Treatment for minor injuries, such as cuts, bites, stings and muscle and joint injuries, can be provided at your local Minor Injuries Unit, where there is no need for an appointment.

“Only dial 999 in a life-threatening emergency, if someone is seriously ill or injured or their life is at risk - remember to keep emergency ambulances for emergencies.”

Despite the long delays, both Cllr Dave Ellis and county councillor Carol Ellis praised the staff, saying they do all they can in the circumstances.

Cllr Carol Ellis said: “There’s nothing they can do, they tried their best but it’s higher up the chain and things are not getting better despite promises from [Minister for Health and Social Services] Mark Drakeford.”

“There is a lack of doctors and they can’t recruit because of the health board’s bad reputation.”

She added: “I’ve heard it’s because of doctors’ contracts as well – they don’t have to work weekends so they don’t.

“What the hell would go on if there was a major road crash? Who is going to deal with it?”